Mr Pil Song Kim and KOTRA staff promote Korean products on display at a shop in Vientiane.

KOTRA brings new Korean products to Laos

More Korean products are on display at supermarkets and leading cosmetics shops in Vientiane, through collaboration between the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) Vientiane and top-tier retailers in Laos.
Under this partnership, Parkson Supermarket and Muanjai Beauty are displaying make-up and skincare cosmetics, hair care products, food supplements and other consumer products on shelves in their stores following online meetings with selected Korean companies.
KOTRA Vientiane is supporting both retailers to promote the displayed items in September and October this year.
Forty Korean companies are offering three product categories at Parkson Supermarket and Muanjai Beauty.
Until the end of September, 100 more items will be added to shelves including shampoo to regenerate damaged hair through dyeing and to reduce hair loss, along with new skin care products, food items and other products.
Elsewhere, Muanjai Beauty is introducing a range of Korean beauty products through its online and offline shopping channels.
Consumers can purchase a variety of quality Korean products such as whitening cream, horse oil cream, shampoo made with 100 percent horse oil, vegan collagen youth cream, vegan lip balm, and breath fresheners.
The shop will add more Korean beauty products until the end of September.
Despite the recent hyper-inflation, Lao consumers still have purchasing powers in many product categories and are becoming more sensitive to quality and price while on the lookout for new products, according to KOTRA Vientiane.
Also, young consumers rely more on social media to access product information prior to making a purchase.
Although it is a challenging time to import products from overseas directly, both retailers will consider setting up a dealership if it is found that any of the products meets local consumers’ demands.
Parkson Supermarket offers a diverse selection of consumer goods, food, and non-food items from both domestic and foreign vendors.
The Director General of KOTRA Vientiane, Mr Pil Seong Kim, said “KOTRA Vientiane continues to support local retailers to import, promote and distribute products from Korea.”
“To benefit from the new railway and the reopening of its borders, Laos should enhance quality product diversification to attract diverse people including international travellers.”
“Our office will increase its contribution not only to retailers distributing Korean products but also to potential exporters to South Korea by initiating the Trade Startup Incubation Programme early next year,” he said.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update September 6, 2022)